Combination header and detachable sponge mop for handling cleaning fluids



July 3, 1962 G. W. J ARDI NE COMBINATION HOLDER AND DETACHABLE SPONGE MOP FOR HANDLING CLEANING FLUIDS Filed July 13, 1959 ATTORNEV United States Patent Ofifice 3,041,651 Patented July 3, 1962 George W. Jardine, 12 Lake Road, Waltham, Mass. Filed July 13, 1959, Ser. No. 826,654 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-244) This invention relates to a sponge mop and applicator device and more particularly to the combination of a novel holder and detachable mop element of the sponge member class.

A chief object of the invention is to provide an improved sponge mop which is of an exceedingly compact size and shaped so that it may be employed either as a cleaning pad or material applicator for use on a wide range of household equipment, such as floors, walls, fumiture, bath tubs, sinks, windows, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to devise a mop or applicator holder which is of non-metallic composition throughout so that when combined with a sponge mop element there are no exposed metal parts to scratch fine surfaces of furniture or walls.

Still another object of the invention is to devise an improved arrangement for instantly attaching and detaching a sponge element to a holder whereby the sponge element may be moved at will, rinsed, and squeezed out when applying cleaning liquids, wax, and the like.

Still another object is to provide a combination holder and cord supported sponge mop which is designed for use with a conventional rectangularly shaped slab of sponge rubber of conventional shape and form. These slabs may be adapted for use by making cuts in the ends of the slab of sponge rubber and then attaching holding cord means.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in, the accompanying drawings, in which:

'FIG. 1 is a plan view of my improved mop holder and sponge mop assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away to more clearly indicate partially severed portions of the sponge element, which portions are attached to the holder;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a prospective view of a sponge element of the invention shown removed from the supporting holder section.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, numeral 2 denotes a mop or applicator holder member which preferably consists of a thin piece of rectangularly shapedhard board, Masonite, plastic, or other fairly rigid material capable of serving as a firm supporting element.

Attached to the holder member 2 is a handle 4 which is preferably secured by means of nails or screws or other desired fastening means. The handle may, if desired, also be detachably secured to allow the holder to be held separately in the hand for some purposes.

In accordance with the invention, I combine with the holder 2, a special mop element 6 which is preferably formed of a rectangularly shaped slab of sponge rubber or similar substance. The length of the slab is chosen such that it appreciably exceeds the length of the holder 2, as shown in FIG. 1, to form projecting ends 6a and 6b.

Likewise the width of the-slab is made slightly greater than the width of the holder.

Each of the projecting ends 6a and 6b are partially severed by horizontally extending kerfs as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the end 6a can be lifted away from a bottom portion 6d and similarly the end 6b can be lifted away from the corresponding bottom portion 62. Within these separated end portions, I locate retaining cords as 10 and 12. Cord 10 is provided with a knotted end 14 and 22, and cord 12 is provided with a knotted end 16 and 24.

These cords 10 and 12 engage around respective ends 6a and 6b and are passed through respective holes 14a and 16a formed in the holder 2 so that the knotted ends 14 and 16 may take a position such as that shown in FIG. 1 to anchor cords 10 and 12 in a fixed holding position. In thus engaging intermediate positions of the cords around the separated ends they are tightened and then drawn snugly into curved slots 18 and 20, (FIG. 1) also formed in the holder. Knots 22 and 24 engage against the top surface of the holder in respective notches 22a and 24a at the ends of slots 18 and 20 and with the cords in a tightly drawn position, the sponge mop element is, firmly secured.

Pull knots 26 and 28 may also be formed in the respective cords to facilitate tightening against the yieldably body portion of the sponge element.

An important feature of the invention is the partially severed end of the mop. It is pointed out that these cut ends may be provided in any conventional slab of sponge commonly manufactured and sold and, therefore, by a single cutting operation a new sponge may be provided to take the place of a worn-out sponge. It will also be observed that the cords are adapted to alternately compress and release intermediate portions of the sponge material in directions transversely thereof when the mop is reciprocated against a surface thereby to facilitate handling of a cleaning fluid contained in the slab of sponge material.

It should also be observed that by the novel slotted end construction of the invention, both sides of this sponge mop body may be used, and in all positions in which the mop may be held and used, there are no exposed metal surfaces, or other sharp edges exposed.

In making the holder and cord held sponge element, it is intended that various modifications may be practiced. For example, in place of the cord, other fastening means as straps, clamps, and the like, may be utilized. The flat surface of the holder may be curved to conform to hollow or concaved surfaces. Various other types of handles may be utilized and other changes resorted to in keeping with the scope of the appended. claim, in which:

A combination mop and applicator device comprising a relatively thin rigid holder plate having a handle extending upwardly therefrom, said holder plate presenting a rectangularly shaped member having side edges and two opposite ends extending between the side edges, and elongated slab of sponge material located against the underside of the rigid plate and presenting slab ends which project beyond the ends of the holder to provide an unsupported protective marginal thickness of sponge material extending slightly beyond the ends of the holder plate in parallel relationship therewith, said slab being formed at two opposite ends thereof with cord retaining slots extending medially inwardly of the slab to underlie termination of respective underlying slots in the slab and knotted cord elements detachably engaged in the said notches and extending around the slab sides and through the said slots for removably receiving the slab against the rigid plate, said cords adapted to alternately compress and release portions of the sponge material adjacent the ends in directions transversely of the sponge when the mop is reciprocated against a surface thereby to facilitate handling of a cleaning fluid contained in the slab of sponge material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 315,814 Morgan Apr. 14, 1885 1,475,748 Christensen -1. Nov. 27, 1923 f FOREIGN PATENTS 1,029,136 Germany Apr. 30, 1958 France Sept. 10, 1956 

